A month-long training course on Jute goods manufacturing began at the Porabasti Slum of Mirpur on Saturday.
The initiative has been undertaken by a local NGO, SPACE to commercially manufacture and export 100 per cent biodegradable and environment friendly jute shopping bags and at the same time create employment opportunities for slum dweller women, especially who lost their jobs at garments factories due to the pandemic, according to a media release.
The programme was inaugurated by Rashedul Islam, Director-General, of NGO Affairs Bureau, which was also addressed by Razia Sultana, local councillor, Iqbal Karim, Country Director of RET International, Md Salah Uddin Bepary, Executive Director of SPACE and local representatives of the slum area among others.
The speakers at the function underscored the need for integrated initiatives by all concerned for promoting environment-friendly jute goods for gradually phasing out packaging materials of synthetic materials harmful to environment, the release added.
The training course was organised under a project funded by Switzerland-based NGO – ‘RET International' and implemented by SPACE.